Game and Fish Notebook (Jan. 23, 2015)AGFC approves non-resident license increase LITTLE ROCK – During last week’s meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Commissioners approved an increase in several non-resident hunting and fishing licenses. The Non-Resident Annual Fishing License will be $50, up from $40. The Non-Resident 3-Day Trip Fishing License will increase from $11 to $16 and the Non-Resident 7-Day Trip Fishing License will increase from $17 to $25. The Non-Resi...

RHS Wrestling wins at homeThe Russellville Cylcones wrestling team pulled out a nail-biting 42-39 victory over the Van Buren Pointers on Thursday inside Cyclone Gymnasium. Russellville freshman Adam Morales entered the final bout of the evening as the Cyclones trailed the Pointers. Morales needed — and succeeded — to pin his opponent to give Russellville the last-minute victory. "I'm so proud of our team for putting themselves in a position to win," Cyclones head coach...

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Courier Sports StaffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Tech hoops to host HSUArkansas Tech University will look to bounce back from a rare conference basketball doubleheader sweep when the Golden Suns and the Wonder Boys host Henderson State University on Saturday, Jan. 24. When Harding University swept Arkansas Tech in a Great American Conference twin bill at Searcy on Thursday night, it marked just the fourth time in their last 94 regular season conference doubleheaders that the Golden Suns and the Wonder Boys lost i...

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ATU Athletic CommunicationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Desperate Arkansas enjoys much-needed reprieve in OT winFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Bobby Portis committed the untimely foul at the end of regulation that nearly sent Arkansas to a crippling home loss against Alabama. The All-Southeastern Conference sophomore more than atoned for his earlier gaffe in overtime when his buzzer-beating tip in gave the Razorbacks a much-needed 93-91 win over the Crimson Tide on Thursday night. While Portis' last-second shot sent the crowd into frenzy about the win, the c...

Atkins game resumes after arrestATKINS — The Lady Red Devils resumed their Colors Day match-up against the Danville Lady Little Johns on Wednesday after the Jan. 16 game was called off when the score was 5-5 when a man rushed across the court and was reportedly restrained and arrested by Atkins resource officer Luke Sawdy. Atkins defeated Danville 45-37 during Wednesday’s game. “This was a hard game for everyone,” Atkins head coach Craig Pinion said. “We were out of our norm...

Golden Suns 18-1 go undefeated in TexasDALLAS, Texas — The Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns 18-1 volleyball team went undefeated at the recent Winter Fest Tournament in Dallas, Texas. The Golden Suns 18-1 team is made up primarily of 7A/6A-Central Conference rivals and includes Russellville’s Hunter Eshnaur and Meredith Darnell, but also Bailey Thomas from Atkins. Other team members are Alexa Hreha, Chloe Brinkley, Sara Nethercutt and Allison Weatherly from Conway and Sarita St...

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gives $10.65 million to ArkansasFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — The University of Arkansas says Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has given $10.65 million to help fund an athletic support center and establish a permanent tribute for the school's 1964 national championship in football. Jones played for Arkansas from 1962-64, when the Razorbacks went 11-0 and were awarded a national title by the Football Writers Association of America. His gift will help support a 55,000 square-foot ...

Arkansas counting on improved defense against AlabamaFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Mike Anderson isn't ready to panic after Arkansas' first home loss this season. The Razorbacks coach is, however, counting on a much-improved defensive effort for the rest of the season after back-to-back losses last week, including a shocking 96-82 setback to Mississippi at home. Arkansas (13-4, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) fell out of the Top 25 following its latest defeat, a game in which the Rebels hit 20 of 27 sh...

Arkansas hires Central Michigan's Dan Enos to run offenseFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Bret Bielema dipped into the head coaching ranks to find his new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The Arkansas coach hired former Central Michigan coach Dan Enos on Thursday, a step down in position but one up into the high-profile Southeastern Conference. Enos was 26-36 in five seasons with the Chippewas, leading the school to bowl games in two of the last three seasons. He called plays as a head coach, ...

Cyclones grab first conference winBRYANT — Andy Campbell and K.J. Patrick each turned in double-double efforts and helped the Russellville Cyclones beat the Bryant Hornets 70-57. It was Russellville's first 7A/6A-Central Conference win of the season. Patrick finished the games with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Campbell had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Many of Patrick's shots were fed from Co-Chese Temple-Laws and Jacob Boles. Russellville didn't score a single 3-pointer throughout...

Lady Cyclones clutch victory from BryantBRYANT — It looked like the Russellville Lady Cyclones might march over the Bryant Lady Hornets during their 61-57 victory over Bryant on Tuesday, but the Lady Hornets had something to say about that. After leading by as many as 14 points, Russellville was outscored 14-2 in between the second and third quarters and watched Bryant battle back into contention. The Lady Cyclones trailed 46-42 midway through the fourth quarter, but cobbled togethe...

Bond sets school record in BryantBRYANT — The Russellville Cyclones and Lady Cyclones swim teams competed in the Bryant Invitational on Thursday. The meet had over 220 swimmers competing from around the state. The Lady Cyclones finished in 10th place out of 13 teams. The Bryant Hornets won the meet with 476 points. They were followed by Magnolia (246), Benton (200), Heritage (187), El Dorado (149), Arkadelphia (123), Lakeside (122), Rogers (87), Vilonia (85) and Russellville ...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Arkansas hires Hargreaves as linebackers coachFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas has hired former Houston assistant Vernon Hargreaves as linebackers coach. Hargreaves helped win a national championship as an assistant with Miami in 2002. He replaces Randy Shannon, who was hired at Florida earlier this month. Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema said keeping a strong recruiting presence in Florida was a priority following Shannon's departure, and that the hiring of Hargreaves fits with that. Befo...

Woman says boxing champ Taylor threatened to kill childrenA Little Rock woman said Tuesday that boxer Jermain Taylor threatened to shoot her three small children, and that she knocked the gun away after the cursing middleweight — once called a role model by the city's mayor — put the weapon to her husband's head. Toya Smith, 40, said she and her family, including children ages 5, 3, and 1, were watching the city's Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade Monday when Taylor, 36, produced his championship bel...

Golden Suns climb as high as 8th in national pollsA 2-0 week with wins over East Central and Southeastern Oklahoma has propelled the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns basketball team (14-1, 9-0 Great American Conference) as high as No. 8 in this week’s top-25 polls announced Tuesday. The Golden Suns climbed one spot from the No. 9 ranking in last week’s D2SIDA media poll, while jumping three sports from No. 15 to No. 12 in the WBCA Coaches’ Poll. The two wins this past week give Arkansas Tech a six-g...

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ATU Athletic CommunicationThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

AGFC increases non-resident licenses for hunting, fishingLITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) recently approved an increase in several non-resident hunting and fishing licenses. The Non-Resident Annual Fishing License will be $50, up from $40. The Non-Resident 3-Day Trip Fishing License will increase from $11 to $16, and the Non-Resident 7-Day Trip Fishing License will increase from $17 to $25. The Non-Resident Annual All Game license will be increased from $300 to $350. The No...

Witt, Flores commit to OBUTwo local football players found a home at Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) recently. Dardanelle’s Parker Witt and Russellville’s Kervin Flores each gave verbal commitments to the university after visiting the campus recently. Flores said he knew it was the right place for him immediately after leaving the campus on Thursday. Flores waited until Sunday to give his verbal, but Witt made his commitment before leaving the university that day. “O...

Youth spring turkey season at Holla BendSpring Turkey season is approaching, and the refuge will have two youth weekend quota turkey hunts: April 11-12 and April 18-19. The youth hunts are restricted to youth 6-15 years of age. Hunters can go to the refuge website, www.fws.gov/hollabend, and print off an application for youth quota turkey hunt. Applications can also be made on a postcard or index card mailed in an envelope. Include the applicant’s name, mailing address, phone number...

Spring season not all that far awayDespite the frigid temperatures, lots of rain and a little ice, spring is just around the corner. Each year I anxiously await its arrival and cannot wait to see the warmer days and nights, but inevitably it always seems to sneak up on me. I am optimistic that this year will be different as I expect this to be a busy spring between a bumper turkey crop and some awesome fishing opportunities. My first official act of the new year will be to actu...

Game and Fish Notebook (Jan. 17, 2015)Lab results confirm pseudorabies in Sevier County dog deaths DeQUEEN - A pseudorabies outbreak has been confirmed near DeQueen in Sevier County. The outbreak claimed the lives of 10 hunting dogs after they encountered feral swine. The dogs were used to chase feral swine near a livestock pasture when an infected hog was caught and mauled by the dogs. Feral swine are not native to the U.S. They are an invasive species, a public nuisance and a th...